FIRST-TIME film producer Datuk Dr Che Rozmey Che Din recently made two announcements that stirred the local film industry.

The announcements about his debut film 2 Alam, were made in an advertorial in a Bahasa Malaysia newspaper.

The first was that the film would open nationwide on May 8.

He also announced that 2 Alam would bring back the glory days of the Malay film industry by becoming the first local film to collect RM12 million (S$5.217 million) at the box-office.

The film, about the life and death of a transvestite, was directed by first-time feature film director, Hairie Othman.

It stars Singaporeans Suhaillah Salam and Aaron Aziz, with the former playing the role of the transvestite.

But Malaysian Film Producers' Association president Ahmad Puad Onah said it was not possible for 2 Alam to open on May 8 or any date in May or June.

"The slots for the screening of local films under the Compulsory Screening Scheme for the two months have been taken up."

Ahmad Puad said the committee overseeing the scheme was in the process of deciding the films to be screened in July and Hari Raya Aidilfitri period.

He stressed that local movies can only be screened in accordance with the scheme.

"There is an understanding between cinema operators and Finas that local movies must be shown under the scheme."

He added that Rozmey could try and make a deal directly with cinema operators to get the mentioned date.

"But I doubt that cinema operators will entertain him."

Furthermore, Ahmad Puad points out that May 8 falls on a Saturday.

"It has been a practice by cinema operators that all new films, either locally-made or imported, open on a Thursday."

Last Thursday, April 4, a romantic comedy directed by box-office director Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nazri opened nationwide.

Sports comedy, Hooperz, is slated to open on April 22 followed by action-thriller Belukar (May 6), and comedy Andartu Terlampau 21 Hari Mencari Suami (May 20).

Two films will open on June 3, a school holiday period -- musical romance Lagenda Budak Setan and comedy Kecoh Betul followed by comedy superhero movie, Kapoww! on June 17.

But can 2 Alam collect RM12 million at the box-office as targeted by the producer?

Currently, the highest grossing local film is Adnan Sempit, a comedy.

It made RM7.8 million at the box-office.

The highest grossing local horror film was the horror comedy, Jangan Pandang Belakang Congkak at RM6.1 million.

"I wish him luck because now, anything is possible," said Ahmad Puad.

He said in the past, most producers thought a local film could only make RM6 million at most.

But several films managed to surpass the RM6 million mark, while Adnan Sempit proved that it was possible to collect more than RM7 million.

"It depends on the movie-goers. If they like and support a film, the box-office collection would be enormous."

Evolusi KL Drift 2 produced by Skop Productions was the fourth local film to make RM4 million this year.

The other three were Adnan Sempit, Niyang Rapik and V3 Samseng Jalanan.

Movie-goers can watch the trailer of 2 Alam on Youtube and Facebook by keying '2 alam'.

Also available on Youtube are the movie's theme songs, Andai Ku Tahu and Salam Terakhir performed by Ramli Sarip and Amy Search, respectively.

Rozmey is the founder of Herba Prima Marketing Sdn Bhd, a company that sells health products for men and women.